Hello, My Name is Joe Schultz and I am honored to be a Student Visionaries of the year candidate this year. I am currently a Sophomore at Neenah High School and I am involved in DECA, Student Government, Key Club, Student Cabinet, Drama, Tennis, Showchoir, and Madgrical Singers. 

In November, LLS gave me the opportunity to take part in their Student Visionaries of the Year program. I was honored to be nominated for the program and I quickly took the opportunity, as I knew that it was a once-in-a lifetime chance to impact people's lives. However, at that time, like many, I lived in a bubble. Of course, I knew that blood cancer impacted people’s lives, but I didn't yet comprehend what that really meant. I mean, you can hear that, "1.3 million people are currently impacted by blood cancer,” but to truly understand what that means is a totally different animal. 

But, over the course of several months I was able to meet and get to know Blood Cancer survivors like LLS’s honor hero 5-year-old Harper. On January 1, 2019 Harper had the flu. On January 2nd, she landed in the emergency room for fatigue, extreme dehydration, and excessive vomiting. On January 3rd, Harper was diagnosed with T-cell acute lymphoblastic leukemia and her life and the lives of her family members will never be the same. Harper’s treatment has been hard. Ear infections, hair loss, muscle loss, chemotherapy, radiation, steroids, physical therapy, cognitive delays, difficulty walking, and social isolation. As a result, Harper repeated Kindergarten and it’s likely that her learning and brain development will plateau sometime in her high school years as a result of her current treatment. Through it all, Harper has been exceptionally positive and persevered with a smile. Her strength shined all the way through her last day of treatment...which was on April 21, 2021!

Getting to know Harper, and their story really impacted my campaign as it allowed me to connect with the program and truly comprehend what I was fighting for. You may be like me a couple months ago, not truly grasping the impacts of blood cancer, but after getting to know Harper I can tell you that even donating a couple dollars to my program would truly make a difference. Your donations to my campaign would touch three main LLS programs: Blood Cancer Research, support for victims and families of blood cancer, and Advocacy for Laws that help make treatments more accessible for victims. 

Visionaries look to the future—and see infinite possibility.
They challenge the status quo—and make the impossible possible.
They boldly imagine a better world – and lead the charge to create it.

The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society was built on that same vision - of a better world - one without blood cancers.

I am a visionary; I have a vision for a world without cancer, but I need your help.

This year, I’m proud to be a part of the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society’s (LLS) Student Visionaries of the Year Campaign, working to raise as much as possible for LLS’s mission.

As a global leader in the fight against blood cancer, LLS:

• Funds cutting-edge research leading to breakthroughs in immunotherapy, genomics and personalized medicine that are improving and saving the lives of patients
• Provides free education and support for blood cancer patients and families, including personalized, one-on-one support, assistance with identifying and enrolling in clinical trials, and more.
• Mobilizes thousands of advocates to drive policy changes that accelerate the development of new cancer treatments and break down barriers to care.

Please consider joining this fight by making a donation. All donations are greatly appreciated and tax-deductible. Please visit my website often and tell friends who would also like to donate!

Thanks to your support, my efforts will help ensure this generation is the last to see cancer.

On behalf of blood cancer patients everywhere, thank you!

For more information about LLS, please visit www.lls.org.